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(!Z) <br />TO:Mayor Peterson and Council Members <br />FROM: <br />DATE: <br />Ron Moorse, City Administrator <br />April 30,2003 <br />SUBJECT: Big Island Access <br />Although there are a number of public right-of-way lanes on Big Island that run to the lakeshore, due to <br />topographic issues, etc., there are only a small number that can provide vehicular access to and fix>m the <br />Island. Although vehicular access is not a critical need for day-to-day use of the Island, it is critical for <br />enabling the transport of items such as building materials. <br />Until recently, there were two main access points for vehicular access to the Island. One was the <br />public right-of-way lane located between the properties at 120 and 140 Big Island, which had <br />served the northern group of properties. The other is adjacent to the property at 450 Big Island, and <br />serves the southern group of properties. (Please see the attached map). <br />However, the historical access between 120 and 140 Big Island is not currently available to the <br />public. A survey has shown that the actual driveway is on private property, rather than the public <br />right-of-way. On the basis of that survey, the property owner has blocked use of the driveway. <br />This has caused problems for those who need tu transport building materials to properties without <br />another access option. This could also be a problem for the owners of the two internal lots to whom <br />the City has granted the right to place docks on the City right-of-way lane. These property owners <br />need an access lane for pedestrian access to their properties. <br />Staff Recommendation <br />It is staffs recommendation that the problem of vehicular access for the transport of items such as <br />building materials to the northern group of properties be addressed by providing a driveway on the <br />City-owned right-of-way lane adjacent to the driven area that is now unavailable for public use. <br />This public access lane would nut be available for day-to-day use, but rather would be restricted to <br />use for the necessary transport of items such as building materials. <br />The construction of the driveway will require the filling of a portion of the existing wetland, and the <br />mitigation of the wetland filling. This work will require a permit from the Minnehaha Creek <br />Watershed District.